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 SPACEMASTER
TECH LAW: VEHICLE MANUAL
Designer: Robert J. Defendi
Reviewed by Brent Knorr, 2002
http://www.ob1knorrb.com/gaming.shtml
Spacemaster Tech Law: Vehicle Manual is the first
product to be released by ICE since it was revived
in late 2001. This is the third book in the Tech Law
series, completing the set that also includes the
Equipment Manual and the Robotics Manual.
The Vehicle Manual contains all the information you
need to build vehicles ranging from motorcycles to
large spacecraft. It’s got sample vehicles for the
Spacemaster Privateers settings, a streamlined construction
system for vehicles in that setting as well as a more
complete and complex system for building vehicles
in any setting. It also has the rules you need for
conducting combat between vehicles, as well as between
characters and vehicles, and Infantry and vehicles.
There’s also sections with rules for using some of
the specialized equipment that vehicles may have,
and rules for Malfunctions and repairs. It’s a well
laid out book, packed with information. It’s definitely
not casual reading, my recommendation is to start
small and tackle one section at a time. A basic understanding
of Math and Physics doesn’t hurt either.
Overall, I’m quite impressed with the book and would
definitely recommend it for anyone playing Spacemaster,
or a Rolemaster campaign using the Pulp or Black Ops
supplements. Many of the rules do refer to Blaster
Law, which isn’t available yet, but options are always
given on what to do if you don’t have Blaster Law.
For those who have been long time ICE fans, the vehicle
construction system should look familiar; it’s the
same system that was used in the old Star Strike and
Armored Assault supplements for the old Spacemaster.
The ICE website has an Excel spreadsheet submitted
by Guillame Maurice that can help with creating vehicles.
This can be found at: http://www.ironcrown.com/thevault.htm#SPAM
There is one table that needs correcting, the Infantry
vs. Infantry table. The corrected table can be found
on the ICE website at: http://www.ironcrown.com/free_downloads/VehMan_errata.pdf.
Here’s a summary of what’s in each chapter of the
book:
- Chapter 1 introduces the book and discusses using
Tech Law with Spacemaster, without Spacemaster,
and using Rolemaster with Spacemaster.
- Chapter 2 is a general discussion of Tech Levels
- Chapter 3 covers Tech Levels as they apply to
various categories such as Agriculture, Communications,
Engineering, Sociology and others.
- Chapter 4 covers Levels of Development, which
gives guidelines in designing cultures and assigning
levels of technological development. This is broken
down into a Racial Considerations, such as Biology,
Psychology, Perception, and Mating. Culture considerations
are also discussed, looking at things like Physical
Resources, Language, Religion, Art, Politics and
additional items.
- Chapter 5 covers Specific Advancements, this deals with
the actual methods used to implement various technologies,
what energy sources are available, what methods of Star
Travel are available, and what types of Communications and
Computers are available.
- Chapter 6 describes many of the Vehicles that exist in
the Privateers Universe. The examples range from basic Ground
Bikes to APE Orbital Drop Armor, to the Kizzari Military
Packet (crew of 764).
- Chapter 7 is Vehicular Combat, this includes detection
and detection avoidance, movement in various environments,
and how to resolve attacks.
- Chapter 8 discusses options on how to mix personal combat
with vehicle combat.
- Vehicle Maneuvers and navigation are covered in Chapter
10, and assorted weapons used by and against vehicles are
covered in chapter 10.
- Chapter 11 discusses how to use vehicle equipment such
as sensors and various steath and electronic warfare systems.
- Chapter 12 covers the Construction and Design
process, chapter 13 deals with malfunctions and
repairs.
Almost half the book is taken up by the Appendices.
Appendix A-1 provides some optional transit time rules,
Appendix A-2 some extensive guidelines for constructing
heavy ordnance, and infantry units. This includes
the Quick and Dirty method for designing starships
for the Privateers Universe as well as the full Vehicle
construction system.
Appendices A-3 and A-4 provide 10 new attack tables
and 6 new critical tables to use with vehicles and
infantry units.
The introduction to the Appendices indicates that there should
be an Appendix A-5 that provides some detailed ship diagrams,
but this is not actually included in the book.
Contact Information:
ICE
112 Goodman Street
Charlottesville, VA 22902
USA 434-244-0881
Web: http://www.ironcrown.com
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